Richard Fierova photo
Logan Moses makes contact for a single on Saturday, May 11 against Harper in New Braunfels. Harper won the one-game playoff contest to advance in the playoffs and end the Eagle’s season.

NEW BRAUNSFELS- -Woodsboro Eagles baseball team swept the Benavides Eagles on Thursday and Friday, May 2 and May 3 to advance to the Area Round of the playoffs, where they will meet Harper in a one game playoff on Saturday at noon at New Braunsfels High School.

Woodsboro defeated Benavides in game 1 15-10 and 8-7 in game 2. Woodsboro fell behind Benavides 5-0 in the first two innings of game 1. The Eagles then erupted for nine runs in the fourth inning to take a 9-5 lead. Jake Nesloney led off the 4th by getting hit with a pitch, then Trent Moses and Tyler Salyers followed with walks to load the bases. Mikey Berraza was hit with the bases loaded to bring in the first run and Freddie Arriaga was walked to bring in another run.

Garret Horner then doubled to clear the bases. J.T. Blaschke walked and then stole second to put runners on second and third. Logan Moses walked to load the bases again. Conner Payne singled and drove in two runs. Jake Nesloney then came up the second time in the inning and singled to right to end the scoring for the Eagles in the 4th inning.

The Eagles scored three more runs in the top of the fifth on a walk to Freddie Arriaga, a single by J.T. Blashke, a single by Logan Moses, and a double by Conner Payne. Benavides then scored two runners in the bottom of the inning. Making the score 12-7 after five innings. Tyler Salyers hit a solo homerun to deep center to start the Eagles’ scoring in the sixth inning. The Eagles would score two more runs in the sixth to finish their scoring.

Benavides would score two in the sixth and one in the seventh, bringing the final score to 15-10. Garret Horner (6-2) pitched all seven innings for Woodsboro, striking out 12, walking two and giving up 12 hits.

In game 2, Woodsboro starter J.T. Blashke gave up one run in the top of the first inning. Woodsboro responded by one run of their own in the bottom of the inning. Freddie Arriaga got on by an error by the first baseman and then stole second to get into scoring position. Arriag would then score on an error by the Benavides shortstop off the bat of cleanup hitter Conner Payne.

Benavides would score two more runs in the second to take a 3-1 lead. Woodsboro would respond by batting around in the seond and scoring 4 runs to take a 5-3 lead. Woodsboro’s patience at the plate would pay off again as Benavides would walk four batters in the inning and hit one more. Tyler Salyers got the only hit of the inning. Benavides would score two in the third inning to tie the game 5-5.

Woodsboro would score one run in each of the fourth, fifth, and sixth innings. Benavides would score two in the sixth, making the score 8-7 into the seventh inning. Benavides would get the lead off hitter on by an error and then stole second. The next hittter popped up to first baseman Jake Nesloney. The runner on second advance to third on a passed ball.

The next Benavides batter would walk, putting runners on first and third with one out. Woodsboro then intentionally walked the lead off batter for Benavides to load the bases. Conner Payne was then brought into relieve J.T. Blaschke.

The Eagles brought in their infield with the bases loaded and one out. Benavides number two hitter then hit a line drive to the left of second baseman Zack Lopez who dove to his right to make the play and then threw to first to double up Benavides, ending the game. Started J.T. Blaschke (2-2) went 6.1 innings, scattering 9 hits, striking out 4 and walking 3. Conner Payne got the final two outs of the game for the save.